Mark 3:17 -
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

In the Bible names are meaningful and even the nick names were given with reason. Nicknames were mostly given to those who had common names. Jesus too gave nicknames to people but mostly with a purpose connected to the character or his relationship with that person.

Thomas was called Didymus which means two fold or twain or twin because he showed a dual character of immense faith and also of faithlessness and that too in a matter of seconds.

Jesus called Simon by the nick name Cephas which is an Aramaic word for stone (Peter was the Greek translation of the Aramaic word). John's Gospel is very specific and clear to note this fact. The word Cephas symbolizes a person with half knowledge and we see Simon showed that character throughout the Gospels where he puts his foot in his mouth many a times.

We see Jesus called them names even before they started being part of His ministry and exhibiting that character. Similarly we see in today's message John and James were called Boanerges which means sons of thunder. The name may sound like they were some Roman gods but the word thunder here symbolizes zeal. When Jesus met them He could see the zeal in them for the Kingdom of God.

If we look at scriptures we see they were the closest relatives of Jesus after His own family His mother, brothers and sisters. John the Baptist was not Jesus' first cousin but was son of Mary's cousin Elizabeth, while John and James were sons of her actual sister Salome whom Jesus also called by His mother's name Mary because He respected her and Mary Magdalene (who was also an aged woman) as He did His mother, He never differentiated between them.

We see among the 12, Jesus gave more priority to Peter, James and John not because He love them more (Jesus loved all His disciples the same for He had the nature of God in Him), like God Jesus also had favour on some people more than the others not because of His relationship but because of their mission or purpose in God's Kingdom.

James, John and Peter were selected to head the Church and this is what we see Paul testifies in his letter to Galatians. This core group was later expanded by the joining of Barnabas and Paul.

The selection of the 12 was not to do with running or heading the Church but was symbolic like the 12 tribes of Israel. Similar to the tribes when Levi and Joseph were removed from the list, they were replaced with the two sons of Joseph. After they entered the Promised Land they were not called by their tribe names but by the place they dwelled or their belief. The people of Judah who followed Judaism were called Jews. The believing people of Samaria were also mostly decedents of Israel but were not called Jews but were called Samaritans. They did not follow Judaism for they were a different sect and fought many (temple) battles with the Jews but they too worshipped Jehovah. By the parable of Good Samaritan Jesus showed understandings do not matter much but the nature that is in us is what matters more. We are brethren not just because we believe in Christ but more because we follow Christ.

We see in scriptures people who had zeal for the Kingdom of God were used by God greatly. God is looking for people who are crazy for Him, not just in understand or have knowledge of the Bible. Even if they lack understanding like Peter did, God will open their minds and change them and make them wise and bold as Peter was after Pentecost. He wants people like Jeremiah who had a fire in his bones [which symbolises nature] for God and His Kingdom or as Paul had even before he came to know the Truth.

Today God is throwing the doors open for all those who want to be used for the glory of God. He is saying all they need is to have a passion, a crazy, a thirst, a commitment to saves souls, for the purpose of the Kingdom of God on earth is all about saving souls and bringing them to God. They do not need any ability in mind or body like skill or good education or a strong body. God is saying He will provide all that they need all they need is zeal.

[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, people look at serving You with what they have, they do not realize all that they need to have is just a zeal, a passion to save souls, all other things You provide. Since they try to serve You with what they have they soon lose the purpose of serving You and land up serving themselves. Lord, we pray a great fire in the bones of your people, a crazy for your Kingdom such that the world can't hold or control them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[ Reference ]John 1:42 - And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Matthew 4:18 - And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

Luke 6:14 - Simon, (whom he also [apparently] named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

John 11:16 - Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Luke 1:36 - And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

John 19:25 - Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas [Zebedee was a nickname of Cleophas], and Mary Magdalene.

Mark 15:40 - There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses [Mary the mother of Jesus, on His death was referred by her other sons but after His resurrection was again called mother of Jesus for she was mother of the man Jesus], and Salome [her sister whom Jesus called Mary];

Galatians 2:9 - and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

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